On that particular New Years Eve, they dressed up in pressed collars and stiletto heels and waited in line in the cobblestone streets to get inside. But the line did not move as the clock ticked on toward midnight. So they abandoned their plan, grabbed a frozen pizza and a bottle of champagne and headed back to the apartment.

They spent the rest of the night sitting on the carpet in front of the television, sipping bubbles, holding hands and watching the East Coast celebrate from Nashville to New York.

She knew then, with absolute certainty, it was going to be a good year.